Chapter 257: Closing the Net
Liu Xiaolou gave a helpless smile. “You flatter me, senior.”
Zhang Daming laughed. “My third uncle doesn’t hand out praise easily. If he says you’re good, that really means something! Haha. Anyway, you folks from Wulong Mountain have made quite a stir this year. The people from Tianmu Mountain are furious; they’ve even put a bounty on your lot. How’d you dare come back? You’re way too reckless.”
His third uncle corrected him, “Daming, his name isn’t actually on the Tianmu Mountain bounty list.”
Zhang Daming blinked. “What? How come?”
His third uncle said, “At first, his name was on the bounty list. But after the notice spread, the Dongyang Sect objected. Lou Zhenwu said that Liu Xiaolou is the former son-in-law of the Su family from the Danxia Sect; even though he’s already been divorced. To put out a public bounty like that would be an embarrassment to Danxia Sect’s reputation. The Dongyang Sect has some old ties with the Su family of Shenwu Mountain, so it’s not surprising they spoke up. On top of that, Elder Tu from our side also lent a hand, so Tianmu Mountain eventually removed Xiaolou’s name from the bounty.”
“So that’s how it was,” Liu Xiaolou said, bowing in thanks. “I’m deeply grateful to your sect for stepping in on my behalf.”
“So, Brother Xiaolou, where are you headed now?” asked Zhang Daming.
Liu Xiaolou said, “A year away, and the homesickness got the better of me. Had to come back and take a look..”
Zhang Daming’s eyes flicked around. “Xiaolou, I’ve got some news you might want to hear. Interested?”
The moment Liu Xiaolou saw that look on his face, he knew it was going to cost him. Still, to avoid any unnecessary trouble, some “bloodletting” was unavoidable. He gritted his teeth, took out two spirit stones, and offered them over. “Just a small token of appreciation. I hope Brother Daming and Senior won’t refuse it.”
Zhang Daming weighed the stones in his palm. “Ah, what’s this now? The news might be important, but it’s hardly worth two spirit stones, is it?”
Liu Xiaolou’s heart bled, but he had no choice. He reached into his robes again, pulled out two more spirit stones, and added them to the pile. “For Third Uncle as well.”
Only then did Zhang Daming break into a broad grin and pocket the stones. He leaned toward Liu Xiaolou and said, “Now listen, get moving, and stay far away. Whatever you do, don’t head southeast. Word is, Tianmu Mountain’s organizing a massive sweep in that direction. You remember Lu Boqi, right? One of their elders? Even he’s been sent out.”
Liu Xiaolou’s heart jolted. He glanced at Third Uncle, who smiled silently and gave a small nod, confirming it was true.
Southeast… what direction was that, exactly? He didn’t know where Tianmu Mountain planned to cast their net, but he did know that Baiye Manor lay two hundred and thirty li southeast of Wulong Mountain!
Zhang Daming went on, “Still, Brother Xiaolou, no need to panic. Elder Tu and Steward Xin from our Gengsang Cave both think well of you. And Lou Zhenwu from the Dongyang Sect’s got your back too. Tianmu Mountain probably won’t go out of their way to target you. Just don’t go poking around where the action is. As long as you don’t get caught on the spot, everything should be fine.”
Liu Xiaolou thanked them again and watched them lumber off. Without wasting a second, he swung south, looping around Wulong Mountain and racing straight toward Baiye Mountain.
“Wanderer Dai, Brother Zuo... Senior Dragon Mountain, Huang Xian, Bajhang , Captain Hu... you all must hold your ground! Don’t make a move yet. Wait until I get there, and then we’ll discuss it again!”
Liu Xiaolou pushed himself faster than ever before, running with everything he had as the wind roared past his ears. All the while, his mind spun with plans for what to do once he got there.
If what Zhang Daming said was true. if that “southeast” really meant Baiye Mountain... then it was likely already caught in Tianmu Mountain’s great web. Charging straight in would be suicide. No, his job now was to intercept the friends from Wulong Mountain around the outskirts and stop them from getting inside.
He turned the route over in his mind, from Yellow Wind Ravine to Baiye Mountain, every bend and ridge. In the end, he took the same path he’d used during last year’s assault. By the stroke of midnight, he made it there.
No time to rest. Heart thudding, he paced up and down the trail for miles, but there was no sign of the Wulong Mountain comrades. So he swallowed his fear and edged closer to Baiye Mountain, creeping toward the foot of it one cautious step at a time. Even when he reached the base, everything was eerily quiet.
The mountain wind sighed through the pines, their whispering waves sending shivers through Liu Xiaolou’s chest.
He stared up at Baiye Mountain for a long moment before deciding to climb. All the way up, not a sound. Nothing but the wind and his own breathing. Near the summit, the shattered walls of Baiye Manor loomed in the dark, silently telling the story of last year’s devastation.
What was going on?
Was Zhang Daming’s information wrong? Or had Tianmu Mountain set their trap somewhere else?
And where were the comrades from Wulong Mountain? Why hadn’t they shown up?
Staring at the shattered ruins, Liu Xiaolou dared not go any closer. According to Dai Shenggao, the traitor from Tianmu Mountain’s inner sect, Meng Chengzhang, was hiding somewhere in there. If he got spotted, who knew what might happen?
Puzzled and uneasy, he made his way back down the mountain and started toward the road leading to Yellow Wind Ravine. Maybe he’d run into them along the way, he told himself. He walked nearly ten li, but didn’t see a single soul.
Yellow Wind Ravine was only thirty or forty li from Baiye Mountain. By the plan, they were supposed to move at midnight... so why hadn’t anyone arrived yet?
A sudden thought hit Liu Xiaolou. Could it be… the trap wasn’t set at Baiye Mountain after all?
No... could it be at Yellow Wind Ravine?
Meanwhile, at Yellow Wind Ravine, Dai Shenggao checked the time again. It was already six quarters past the midnight. He made another round through the camp, confirming everyone’s positions, and then realized Liu Xiaolou was missing.
“Where’s Xiaolou?” he asked Zuo Gaofeng.
Zuo Gaofeng replied, “He said he had to step out for a bit. If he couldn’t make it back in time, he’d head straight to Baiye Mountain to wait for us. He should be there right now.”
Dai Shenggao nodded. “Baiye Mountain, huh.”
Zuo Gaofeng asked, “It’s already past midnight. No one else should be coming, right? When do we make our move? There’s still an hour’s climb to Baiye Mountain; we won’t be too late, will we?”
“Soon,” replied Dai Shenggao. “Just give me a moment.”
He walked over to Fairy Huang Ye. Her eyes drifted, looking at nothing in particular. She drew a deep breath and asked, “It’s past midnight already. When are we moving out?”
Dai Shenggao said, “Xiaolou’s gone. Brother Zuo said he had some personal business to take care of. He’ll meet us directly at Baiye Mountain.”
Huang Yexian froze for a moment, then let out a breath of relief. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
Dai Shenggao seemed to relax too. “Yeah… he’s a lucky one.”
Fairy Huang Ye sighed softly. “Luckier than either of us.”
Dai Shenggao said, “When Master Sanxuan first brought him up the mountain, he told me this kid had a good fate and a lot of luck. He said the future of the Sanxuan Sect might rest on his shoulders. Before he died, he made me promise to look after Xiaolou… and I gave him my word.”
“Since you gave your word,” Fairy Huang Ye said quietly, “have you thought about what comes next?”
Dai Shenggao was silent for a moment. “Let’s just take it one step at a time.”
He turned to leave, but suddenly, Fairy Huang Ye grabbed his arm.
“What is it?” Dai Shenggao asked, glancing back at her.
“I…” she hesitated, words failing her.
“There’s no turning back now,” he said, brushing a hand through her hair.
She closed her eyes. “I know… I’ll be gentle.”
Dai Shenggao sighed. “You know… it’s not me who has to do it.”